Answering questions — and questioning answers.

Higher education deserves the confidence of rigorous research and the inspiration that comes from genuine curiosity. We bring together your people, vision, and values with our recognized knowledge and partnership to build brands that endure.

Strategy

Creative

We are SimpsonScarborough.

We’re as curious about your institution as your students are about the world. Our research measures the attitudes and opinions of the people who matter most to you. Based on what we learn, we build marketing and branding campaigns that help you succeed by leaps and bounds — whether that means increasing visibility, strengthening reputation, driving enrollment, engaging alumni, or accelerating fundraising.

Our Work

Case Study

American University

American University had big questions about its brand awareness and positioning. We helped them lay the foundation for a brand strategy that made history in higher education: the KNOW/WONK campaign. Find out how they bolstered the brand, boldly claimed a word, and built an internal culture that supports innovative, risk-taking creative work.

Our Work

Linking Brand and Philanthropy Can Lead to the Extraordinary

With our help, NC State launched their latest bold endeavor —Think and Do The Extraordinary. Learn how the launch of NC State’s comprehensive campaign not only inspired and engaged donors, but further enhanced brand equity by building on an existing strong brand strategy.

Company News

Introducing Mike Roe

We are very excited to announce that Mike Roe has joined our team as Creative Director. Mike has a natural talent and appreciation for integrating research insights into creative strategy—the foundation of our company’s approach to building brands that inspire and endure.

Our Clients

“SimpsonScarborough helped NC State gather data-driven insights and used their experience to help bring our internal community together in a way that built support and enthusiasm for the university’s largest ever comprehensive fundraising campaign. Their solutions were both grounded in research and creative, and were also paired with strategies that helped us identify key audience segments and effective ways to inspire them to support NC State.”

Brad Bohlander
Chief Communications Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for University Communications, North Carolina State University

Our Work

Case Study

Butler University

Butler University sought to advance its national reputation and to realize improved student recruitment efforts, especially outside of Indiana and the Midwest. Butler partnered with SimpsonScarborough on a comprehensive research and strategy effort designed to understand key audiences’ perceptions and to hone its brand.

Our Work

Case study

Meredith College

Meredith College was eager to grow enrollment, engage alumnae, and strengthen its reputation. We helped them find the messages that resonated with their audiences, develop strong brand positioning, and enroll one of the largest classes ever.

Our Clients

“Over the years, I have worked with SimpsonScarborough on a variety of projects at different institutions. What’s been consistent is a sense of true partnership and trust.”

Heather Swain
Vice President for Communications and Brand Strategy, Michigan State University

Our Work

Case Study

Saint Joseph’s University

Saint Joseph’s University has been a beacon of Jesuit education for over 100 years. In the early 2000s, enrollment in local Catholic high schools began to decline and it became imperative that Saint Joseph’s reach beyond their region in recruiting. Saint Joseph’s partnered with SimpsonScarborough in an effort to strengthen their brand and differentiate themselves in the crowded Philadelphia higher ed market.

Our Work

Case Study

University of California

The University of California has long been regarded as the best public university system in the world. In 2012, after losing nearly $1 billion in state budget cuts over four years and struggling with several painful tuition increases, the UC systemwide office reached out to SimpsonScarborough for help understanding and reaching Californians.